Virus identified in outbreak

At least 83 people were sickened at a hotel.

RIVIERA BEACH - Health officials have identified a highly contagious virus as the cause of an outbreak that sickened at least 83 people at a beachfront resort hotel.

Guests and employees at the Hilton Singer Island Resort first reported the flu-like symptoms on Jan. 10. Health officials were called in after three people were hospitalized.

Test results confirm that the outbreak was norovirus, a highly contagious virus that causes diarrhea, vomiting, nausea, cramps and other symptoms, officials said.

"It spreads easily and quickly," said Tim O'Connor, a spokesman for the Palm Beach County Health Department. "We've asked (the hotel) to completely disinfect everything."

The hotel shut down its kitchen last Saturday, threw out food and cleaned, so health officials are unable to determine whether the virus outbreak began in the restaurant.

The hotel restaurant reopened after the staff cleaned the entire property, hotel manager Stan Turner said.

The restaurant was cited for more than a dozen violations during a December inspection, but the report said there was no "immediate threat to the public."

[Last modified January 19, 2008, 00:18:07]